Chapter 9

Dolong smiled when he heard Chen Mo's confident words and said:

"Oh, someone who can deal with two wrestlers, that's quite a talent. Are you willing to try your hand against them? If you can defeat two of them, I'll make you a squad leader. If you can defeat three, I'll make you their leader. If you can defeat four, I can report to the Emperor and give you a seventh-rank guard position."

Chen Mo did not think Dolong was joking. At this time, Dolong was a trusted confidant of Emperor Kangxi. Wei Xiaobao's eventual ennoblement was due to his personal relationship with Kangxi and his extraordinary luck. If it came to Kangxi's true confidants, Dolong and Suo Etu were the ones.

Getting a seventh-rank guard position was not the same as being appointed to a seventh-rank official post. For them, this was a trivial matter. In Beijing, there were many Manchus with titles and reputations who did nothing. Chen Mo's mind raced, and he said in a solemn voice:

"Since the大人 (adult) offers such a generous reward, Chen Mo will dare to face four wrestlers."

Dolong's eyes lit up, and he said loudly:

"Good, aspiring to a high position is what makes a good Manchu son. Those who do not strive for advancement can only sit and wait to die. Four of you, come forward and face Chen Mo. Remember, do not seriously injure him."

The instructor immediately called four burly young men. Chen Mo stepped forward, bowed to the four, and assumed the starting stance of the Jade-Breaking Hand.

The Jade-Breaking Hand has five techniques: hook, cut, turn, strike, and split. Each technique has seven variations. Chen Mo did not dare to use the military boxing, which seemed more effective in one-on-one combat. The Jade-Breaking Hand, being two levels higher than military boxing, was indeed much more powerful.

The four wrestlers were all wearing copper-buttoned wrestling clothes, their open chests showing solid muscles, making them look much stronger than Chen Mo, who had a more balanced build without prominent muscles. However, as soon as Chen Mo began his movements, the four immediately scattered, spreading their arms and swaying like crabs, focusing on Chen Mo.

The first rule of wrestling is to grab the opponent, and Chen Mo was well aware of this. Given the urgency of their training, he understood the importance of these men to Dolong and even to Kangxi.

As long as he could defeat these four, his status in the eyes of Dolong and Kangxi would rise rapidly. He might even have a chance to get close to his target, Emperor Kangxi.

Chen Mo focused his mind and channeled his three years of internal strength throughout his body. With the burst of power, his strength increased by nearly a third each time. Chen Mo, who already had a strength of 130 kilograms, plus the Jade-Breaking Hand, had a good chance of defeating these ordinary wrestlers.

"Ha."

As the four wrestlers circled him twice, Chen Mo remained calm, while the young wrestlers grew impatient. Just as Chen Mo slowly moved his feet, one of the young men on his left lunged at him.

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes but did not immediately attack. As soon as this wrestler moved, the other three also pounced. Chen Mo sidestepped the first attacker, his feet moving like a crab to avoid the other three. As the attacker's hands were about to grab his shoulders, Chen Mo crouched and used the hook technique of the Jade-Breaking Hand to catch the opponent's waist. He then turned and moved behind the attacker.

The hook technique instantly turned into a strike with his index finger extended. Chen Mo moved quickly but did not hit the opponent with full force. The strike made the opponent's chest feel tight, and he collapsed to the ground.

"One."

Chen Mo stepped back and avoided another grab, shouting loudly. The three others retreated and once again swayed and hopped to surround him. Chen Mo had already pushed his strength to the limit. As soon as they retreated, he lunged forward, deflecting the hand of the one in front with his left hand and slicing the opponent's wrist with his right hand, which was like a knife.

The cut technique, though not as powerful as a hand knife due to Chen Mo's lower strength, made the opponent's arm go numb and pull back. Chen Mo took advantage of this to strike the opponent's chest.

The second wrestler clutched his chest and fell to the ground. Chen Mo shouted, "Second," and quickly turned, grabbing the arms of the third wrestler who was lunging at him.

"Ha." The third wrestler roared, preparing to use his arm strength to throw Chen Mo. Chen Mo smiled slyly, twisted his arms, and turned, catching the opponent off guard. The third wrestler, like the others, found his strength useless. As he hesitated, Chen Mo struck his chest again.

"Third."

With Chen Mo's shout, only one wrestler remained. Chen Mo charged forward, and the opponent did not retreat despite Chen Mo's consecutive victories. Instead, he glared and lunged at Chen Mo.

In one-on-one combat, speed is as important as strength. Chen Mo, though smaller than the wrestlers, had the advantage of three years of internal strength. Although he had not yet learned lightness techniques, his speed was still much faster than the opponent's. Before the opponent's hands could grab his shoulders, Chen Mo's fist had already struck the opponent's chest. If Chen Mo had not slightly deviated his punch from the vital point, there would have been four bodies on the ground.

The four wrestlers lay on the ground in pain. After winning, Chen Mo did not immediately go to Dolong to claim his reward. Instead, he massaged the bodies of the wrestlers. When they all stood up, he bowed and said:

"Brothers, I apologize for any offense. Please bear with me."

The four wrestlers, being martial artists, accepted their defeat. They bowed and returned to their positions with grim faces. Chen Mo then walked to Dolong and bowed, saying:

"I have not let you down, Sir Dolong. Chen Mo has defeated the four wrestlers."

Dolong and Zhang Bao looked at Chen Mo in surprise. In just a few moments, the four specially trained wrestlers had been defeated, and Chen Mo only had a few beads of sweat on his forehead. Zhang Bao, who only knew Chen Mo as a young leader, was secretly pleased to see him display such prowess. Dolong, however, frowned at the wrestlers before turning to Chen Mo and saying:

"Your skills are impressive. I will report to the Emperor, and your seventh-rank guard position is assured. You are now one of our imperial guards. Once your appointment is confirmed, these wrestlers will be under your command. For now, you can step down. Meet Zhang Bao here tomorrow at dawn, and I will arrange your next tasks."

"Thank you, Sir Dolong, for your promotion. I will not let you down," Chen Mo hurriedly bowed in gratitude.

Chen Mo did not expect to see Emperor Kangxi on his first day in the Forbidden City. It was said that some people in the Forbidden City never saw the Emperor in their entire lives. He was not in a hurry. As long as the wrestlers were there, he would have a chance to see Kangxi.